An alternative high school programme for students with learning differences and specific learning challenges that combines academics, social interaction, work experience, personal advocacy and life skills.

Our Students

Maplewood Alternative High School is recognized as a leader in teaching adolescents with learning difficulties that include the acquisition, organization, retention, understanding and use of verbal and nonverbal information. These learning difficulties often affect children who otherwise demonstrate average or above-average abilities essential for thinking and reasoning.

Every student at Maplewood is on an individual education plan (IEP). This ensures that courses and strategies are custom fit to the needs and aptitudes of the learner and provide opportunities for each young adult to succeed at her or his own individual pace. Our highly trained and dedicated teaching and tutoring staff help students explore their own unique pathways for learning.

To find out if your daughter or son would be a good fit for Maplewood learn more here.

Inside the Classroom

Maplewood develops the whole person. This endeavour is complex, requiring many people, programs and services to address each student’s unique needs. Most of our classes have a maximum of 15 students. Instruction and daily activities are conducted, for the most part, in small group settings with an approximate teacher to student ratio of 5:1. In addition, students are provided with one on one support when needed to support their success.

Each student has a personalized programme which is designed to meet her or his individual needs and academic and personal goals. Through a combination of technology, activities, oral and written work, our teachers actively find ways for each student to succeed. They build upon these successes to make learning attainable, stimulating and rewarding. Our students thrive in this kind of supportive environment.

Working in bright and an spacious classrooms, labs, Arts studios, and specialized learning spaces, Maplewood provides an inviting environment for students to learn and grow.

Learning Environment

The B.C. Ministry of Education prescribed curriculum is addressed in all instructional areas throughout the high school programme. Materials are adapted and accommodations are made to meet each student’s individual needs. Every student can receive regular, individualized one-on-one tutoring whenever needed and many students have the same tutor for their entire time at Maplewood. This relationship nurtures individual growth, building a foundation for educational success.

Our language and mathematics tutors are trained and certified in the world-renowned Orton-Gillingham Method. This multi-sensory method engages learners visually, auditorily and kinesthetically. The learning sequence is systematic and takes the student step-by-step from basic concepts that progress to more complex languages functions.

Academic tutors with specialties in English, Humanities, Mathematics and Science are dedicated to support students in subject specific areas of need.

Social-Emotional Learning

A key part of our programme is to help students to develop into self-confident and positive adults. Our professional counseling staff members work in small groups and with individual students to foster the values and personal attributes to carry them forward in life.

In addition to their personal development, students are introduced to a wide range of employability skills including: readiness for work; resume writing; interview skills; expectations of the workplace; etc.

Academic Options at Maplewood Alternative

At Maplewood, we offer a diverse academic programme that allows students to pursue an appropriate path differentiated to their needs and goals. The core academic programme meets the prescribed learning outcomes required by the BC Ministry of Education. Core courses are offered at Maplewood include: English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and the Sciences. Students have the option of attaining their Dogwood or Evergreen diplomas in preparation for university/college or preparing themselves for the world of work through our Skills Passport and work placement programmes.

The programme is based on a combination of academic options; individualized and small group instruction; job shadowing and cooperative education placements; and specialized skills-based electives such as music, computer programming; culinary arts; woodworking; and, photography/movie making etc.

We believe that learning takes place both inside and outside of the classroom and students at Maplewood Alternative use the rich resources of the larger community to develop their skills and expand their personal horizons.

Our Story

Maplewood Alternative High School is an extension of Kenneth Gordon Maplewood School for students of high school age and has been built on our experience of over forty years of working with students with learning differences.

Maplewood Alternative is dedicated to providing a personalized learning environment for students with learning needs and preferences that are not typically addressed in a traditional school setting.

At Maplewood, we believe:

That all students should have the opportunity to maximize their individual potential;

That education is a journey and that students should have the power to follow their own individual paths to success; and,

That school should strive to adapt to the needs of students, not students to the needs and structures of school.

Who Should Apply?

Maplewood Alternative High School occupies a unique position among independent schools that specialize in teaching children with learning disabilities, being the first of its kind in Western Canada. With over 40 years of experience, we’ve determined that the following attributes are required of a potential student:

Complete a current psycho-educational assessment which indicates a language-based learning disability;

Demonstrate that the primary impediments to the student’s learning process are learning differences. Any behavioral, physical or emotional issues must be of secondary concern.

Maplewood is a “school of second choice”. If your first choice of school, public or private, has not met the needs of your child we invite you to consider an alternative. If your child meets the above criteria, please contact us today for a tour with the Head of School.

Gala 2017

A huge thank you to all of our sponsors, Ruby & Cruise for hosting the event, our auctioneer Jeff Schwarz, all of those who secured donations, made donations, bid of auction items. A special thank you to all of the volunteers who helped make this fantastic evening possible. And to our superb Co-Chairs, Tracey & Eva!

Support Us

Maplewood Alternative High School is a non-profit organization, which relies heavily on the generosity of corporate sponsors, alumni, friends, family and community organizations to help finance the ever-increasing costs of providing specialized programming for students with learning difficulties. Your gift will help create a dynamic, supportive educational experience – one that will help each student achieve his or her unique potential.

Please contact us to learn more about the opportunities that your donation can create and to make a donation by cheque or credit card.

To donate by Paypal (no account required), please complete the form below.